Can NDS playback sample rates higher than 192k?
Posted by: ayisgroovy on 18 January 2017
Hello. I've seen on various hi-res music websites where they offer albums at higher sample rates than 192k. Why do I reference 192k - that's because that's the spec of my fabulous NDS. Tempted to buy higher (>192k) res music, I wanted to seek the opinion from those in the know whether if,say, 24bit 352k res files would play on the NDS please. Additionally, would >192k files sound noticeably better than 192k? Your thoughts are much appreciated!
The Naim website is instructive:
| Audio Formats | WAV (up to 24bit/192kHz) |
Strictly speaking, the NDS can play DSD64 which has a sample rate of 2,822.4kHz but is only 1 bit per channel.
However, I'm guessing that isn't what you're interested in.
Thank you Bart!
NDS is currently limited (like other Naim streamers) to sample rates of 192 kHz / 24 bit.
Naim nDAC can handle higher sample rates from it's USB input.
As to your question - would higher sample rates sound better?
Possibly - it's all about a mathematical interpretation of a sound wave. The more samples and a higher bit-debth the more info we have. That's the theory.
In practice - it all depends how the material was recorded, mixed and mastered.
Would higher than 192kHz sound better ?, in theory yes, audibly is down to the recording & your system incl speakers & most important your own Mk-II audio receptors. Most peeps agree the difference from 16 bit to 24 bit is the most audible, whereas the change from (e.g.) 24/96kHz to 24/192kHz is not so easy to hear
Re DSD this is bitstream - one bit at a time at 2.8224 milion per second on one channel or as normally shown on the player & iPad/Android 5644kb/s on 2 channels. This compared to 24/96kHz PCM @ 4608kb/s or 24/192kHz PCM @ 9216kb/s. Like I said in theory the higher kb/s numbers should give better sound, but it depends on all the other stuff, not forgetting the bits (pun intended) attached to your brain.
I have heard a couple of times in a workshop the differences between the different levels of low or high resolution audio. And while the difference between 96 and 192 was smaller than for instance moving from MP3 to CD quality or CD to 24 bits. It still was good audible and relevant for the overall experience. I experienced it as air in the music, room around tones etc.
So following that logic I would assume that higher than 192 also does something, but perhaps almost not audible anymore, just a better feel / connection with the music.
I agree that the biggest improvement is switching from 16 to 24 bits. And some hi res albums have been a bit disappointing, (Aladdin Sane 24/192 ��), but it seems overall the higher the bit rate the better. I don't think you can go higher than 24/192 on the Naim streamers. And I suspect that this is not upgradeable via software updates. I have a 172 so even DSD is closed to me
sjbabbey posted:Strictly speaking, the NDS can play DSD64 which has a sample rate of 2,822.4kHz but is only 1 bit per channel.
However, I'm guessing that isn't what you're interested in.
Indeed, the OP is asking about > 192kHz (implied 24 bit stereo PCM) resolution which DSD64 definitely isn't ......
Adam Zielinski posted:NDS is currently limited (like other Naim streamers) to sample rates of 192 kHz / 24 bit.
Naim nDAC can handle higher sample rates from it's USB input.As to your question - would higher sample rates sound better?
Possibly - it's all about a mathematical interpretation of a sound wave. The more samples and a higher bit-debth the more info we have. That's the theory.
In practice - it all depends how the material was recorded, mixed and mastered.
Hi Adam, yes it's about the representation of sound waves using a discrete sample stream, but crucially it's also about the intra timing resolution between the aggregated sound waves as captured in the sample streams... arguably this is more important to us as our hearing cuts off quite early with regard to pitch, but our timing resolution is hugely greater and doesn't deteriorate to the same extent as pitch does with age.
Even a 192kHz sampled stereo PCM stream resolution falls below the timing resolution of our hearing, but in the right environment and media will sound more real .. and indeed this is what Bert above is almost certainly noticing. I find high res recordings of orchestras often reveal the benefit of increased intra timing resolution in a standard domestic hifi listening environment.
i agree the recording, mixing and mastering is pivotal otherwise this information is lost for ever, and of course, the replay equipment, room/speaker interfacing is crucial too so as not to blur and lose this information.